Vehicle-top support.



No. 869,567. PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

T. HENRY.

VEHICLE TOP SUPPORT.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.16,190-7.

I WITNESSES W THOMAS HENEY, OF ALPENA, MlGHlGAN.

VEHICLE-TOP SUPPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed August 16, 1907. Serial No. 388.836.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS HENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Alpena, in the county of Alpena and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Top Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to what are known as top supports for automobiles and other carriages; and it consists in the peculiar and advantageous support, hereinafter described and claimed, calculated to take up shock and jar when the top is let down with a view of preventing injury to the framework, and also calculated to cushion and prevent the transmission of strain to the top when the latter is in its lowered position.

With the foregoing in mind the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation showing a portion of an automobile equipped with the top support constituting the preferred embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the top support, removed. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the support, and: Fig. 4 is a plan view of the base plate.

Similar letters designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings, referring to which:

A is a body which is shown as an automobile body, though it may be the body of any other vehicle without involving departure from the scope of my invention as claimed.

B is a top of the conventional or any other suitable construction, hinged at a to the body A, and arranged to be raised and lowered in the ordinary well known manner.

O is a bracket arm fixed to and extending laterally outward from the side of the body A at a point in rear of the hinge connection a, and D is my novel top support and cushion as a whole; the same being arranged on and carried by the bracket arm and being disposed in a position to receive the impact of the top B when the latter is lowered or dropped.

In practice two of my novel supports D will be employed, one at each side of the body A, but inasmuch as the said supports are identical in construction a detailed description of the one shown in Figs. 2 to 4 will suffico to impart a definite understanding of both. The said support D, Figs. 2 to 4, is made up of a base plate I) having lateral enlargements c in the upper side of which are seats d; the said base plate I) being designed to rest above the bracket arm 0 as shown in Fig. 1, a top plate e having vertical apertures 6 adjacent to its ends, and

also having lateral enlargements f in the under side of which are seats or sockets g, two coiled, cushioning springs h disposed vertically between the base plate I) and the top plate a and having their ends disposed in the said seats (Z and g of the plates 1) and c, upright guide pins 1' extending loosely through the apertures c in the top plate a and having yokcs j at their lower ends, straddling the narrow end portions of the base plate b and the bracket arm C and equipped with bolts is through which they are fixed in position relative to the said bracket arm C and the base plate I), coiled cushioning springs Z surrounding the guide pins 1' and inter posed between the tops of the yokcs j and the under side of the top plate a, cotter pins m disposed above washers n and in the upper end portions of the guide pins '5, and a pad p, of rubber or other yieldable material, secured on the upper side of the top plate a and below the washers n and having for its oflice to receive the impact of the top 13 when the latter is lowered and prevent scratching or other marring of the said top.

While I prefer to employ the washers n and the cotter pins in for the purpose of retaining the padded top plate e on the guide pins 1', I desire it distinctly understood that any other means may be employed for the purpose without involving departure from the scope of my invontion as defined in the claims appended.

When my novel top support is arranged as shown and described, relative to the bracket arm 0, it will be apparent that the base plate b is clamped and fixedly secured between the tops of the yokcs j and the bracket arm 0, and that the guide pins i serve to effect connec tion between the top plate 0 and the bracket arm G, and, at the same time, assure retention of the coiled springs h between the base and top plates and in the seatsor sockets thereof. It will also be apparent that when necessity demands, the support as a whole may be ex peditiously and easily removed from the bracket arm 0, and then the support may be readily disassembled for purposes ofrepair or to permit of a new part being substituted for a damaged or broken part.

With the support D arranged as shown relative to the vehicle body A and top B, it will be appreciated that when the top is lowered, the support C will serve as a buffer and by cushioning the top will effectually prevent breakage of any of the parts of the framework thereof, no matter with what force the top is permitted to fall. It will also be appreciated that the pad p will preclude scratching or narring of the lowermost rib of the top frame, and that while the top is in its lowered position and resting on the support-cushion, the latter will prevent the transmission of shock and strain to the top and in that way will not only prolong the usefulness of the top per se, but will also prevent undue wear of the hinge connection a so that the latter will last for an indefinite period.

The construction herein illustrated and described constitutes the best embodiment of my invention of which I am cognizant, but it is obvious that in the fu ture practice of the invention such changes or modifications may be made as fairly fall Within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims appended.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. The combination with a vehicle body, a top hinged thereto, and a bracket arm fixed to and extending laterally outward from the body; of a top support and cushion comprising a base plate disposed upon the bracket arm and having lateral enlargements with seats or Sockets in the upper sides thereof, a padded top plate having lateral enlargements with seats or sockets in the under sides thereof, and also having vertically disposed apertures, vertical, coiled springs interposed between and resting at their ends in the sockets or seats in the base and top plates, vertical guide pins extending loosely through the apertures in the top plate and having yokes at their lower ends straddling the base plate and the bracket arm, means fixedly securing the said yokes on the bracket arm, coiled springs surrounding the said guide pins and interposed between the under side of the top plate and the tops of the yokes, and means retaining the top plate on the said guide pins.

2. As a new article 01' manufacture, a support and cush ion for vehicle tops, comprising a base plate having seats or sockets in the upper sides thereof, a padded top plate having seats or sockets in the under side thereof and also having vertically disposed apertures, vertical, coiled springs interposed between and resting at their ends in the seats or sockets in the base and top plates, vertical guide pins extending loosely through the apertures in the top plate and having yokes at their lower ends straddling the base plate and provided with fastening means, coiled springs surrounding the said guide pins and interposed be tween the yokes and the top plate, and means retaining the top plate on the said guide pins.

3. The combination with a vehicle body, a top hinged thereto, and a bracket arm fixed to and extending laterally outward from the body of a top support and cushion com prising a base plate disposed upon the bracket arm, a top plate having vertically disposed apertures, a coiled spring interposed and retained between the said plates, guide pins extending through the apertures in the top plate and l1aV- ing yokcs at their lower ends straddling the base plate and the bracket arm, means securing said yokes on the bracket arm, coiled springs surrounding the guide pins and interposed between the top plate and the yokes, and means retaining the top plate on the guide pins.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS HENEY.

Witnesses CHARLES 0001;, MICHAEL FITZPATRICK. 

